42 U.S. Code § 13704 - Truth-in-sentencing incentive grants

To be eligible to receive a grant award under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Attorney General that demonstrates that—

(1)

(A)such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that—

(i)require persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed (without counting time not actually served, such as administrative or statutory incentives for good behavior); or

(ii)result in persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime serving on average not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed (without counting time not actually served, such as administrative or statutory incentives for good behavior);

(B)such State has truth-in-sentencing laws that have been enacted, but not yet implemented, that require such State, not later than 3 years after such State submits an application to the Attorney General, to provide that persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed (without counting time not actually served, such as administrative or statutory incentives for good behavior); or

(C)in the case of a State that on April 26, 1996, practices indeterminate sentencing with regard to any part 1 violent crime—

(i)persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime on average serve not less than 85 percent of the prison term established under the State’s sentencing and release guidelines; or

(ii)persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime on average serve not less than 85 percent of the maximum prison term allowed under the sentence imposed by the court (not counting time not actually served such as administrative or statutory incentives for good behavior); and

(2)such State has provided assurances that it will follow guidelines established by the Attorney General in reporting, on a quarterly basis, information regarding the death of any person who is in the process of arrest, is en route to be incarcerated, or is incarcerated at a municipal or county jail, State prison, or other local or State correctional facility (including any juvenile facility) that, at a minimum, includes—

(A)the name, gender, race, ethnicity, and age of the deceased;

(B)the date, time, and location of death; and

(C)a brief description of the circumstances surrounding the death.

(b) Exception

Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a State may provide that the Governor of the State may allow for the earlier release of—

(1)a geriatric prisoner; or

(2)a prisoner whose medical condition precludes the prisoner from posing a threat to the public, but only after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner’s victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release.